GhostRider3/3

Bil is right here, there is nothing wrong with the Shermans nor PzIV. Even in CMAK, CMBB when playing the Germans I kept my PzIV at a distance... meaning... no less then about 700-800m. Most of the time the Mk IV faired well and I usually caught the Shermants or T-34's traversing etc and had great Hull shots, and some good Frontal Armor hits. I looked up the Penetration for the 75mm L/48 and at 500m it is 96mm... I am pretty sure. I think its tactics you use. Most Commanders at the time... good Book is "Panzer Aces" new that the Pz. IV had a great Gun, good communications, and great optics and range finder. The Armor was ok, but they new if they engaged at Range.. they had the advantage. (Relative advantage). It really depended on what you were up against. When the Germans heard and saw the "Fire Fly" they had orders to take out those tanks first as a Priority.... So the Brits began to camouflauge their barrels, as they new there was a price on their heads...of sorts.

I never said the Panzer was not tall, It is not a misconception that at 9' it is small... however relative to other tanks. What I was saying is, like most tanks...medium etc with few exceptions.. that normal logic and Human vision.. you would have to be utterly retarded not to see it in plain view in open field...on a sunny day. From the Pictures.. etc that we have seen, by the way they are beautiful and the reporting excellent.... Thanks.. for posting...

This is the Visual equipment from the Pz IV... I take it the modeling may be different. T.Z.F. 5f. 1. Pz.Kpfw. IV Models G to K. You can get this info from LS GUNSIGHT. http://www.lonesentry.com/blog/tag/gunsight Its pretty good site. Other information is from http://www.achtungpanzer.com/panzerkampfwagen-iv.htm I was just suprised that none of the Mk IV H's could not see any of the Shermans at all. I mean... the Sherman is tall as hell... anyways I was really curious because the German tanks did have great Vision, and the commanders in Open Top.. or Unbuttoned would be using binocs...

Good to know.. however I plan to spend the first few hours creating my own maps... and sort of chain my own little Adventure.

If your going to 'Quote" me then do so. We are all talking about the engagment of the OP... unless you want to start going off topic sure... we can do that and Yes the 75mm L/70 was Superior to ALL ALLied 75mm and 76mm guns. IMO.... of course. But the Topic here is in regards to the PzIV H and the Shermans in this little mock up. The 75mm L/48 proved more lethal then the Sherman 75mm, and pretty much on Par with the 76mm. However the (76mm or 17lbr of the Firefly)was by far the most Lethal Weapons platform for the Allies, being even more effective then the 88mm of the tiger, but in respect to the 88mm...when it hit you.. .YOU for sur freaking Felt it, as it was by far an extremely large AT round. So basically the Firely with its very long 76mm was the most lethal AT asset until the arrival of the Jackson...and Pershing... and other commonwealth tanks that would be upgunned with the 17lbr...as far as ground units go. It really was not until the arrival of the Pershing and the Centurian that the Western Allies had either Superior or adequate Tank assets... Tank per tank that is. The Panther was still a very capable Asset for the Axis... but that is another discussion.

For some odd reason this happend alot with me in CMBB. The Fields would be littered with burning T-34's, Pz-IVH's or halftracks.. and sometimes it would light the fields ablaze... and after about an hour of play the entire Field would be a burning Enferno! Of course this only really happend during the summer month conditions. Was pretty cool, so not sure how they are going to do that.

So basically.... Im in my Jumbo..or better yet for sake of argument with burning buildings and stuff which frankly jacked up the frame rate. Lets say I am in a M4/105 I can still blow a building to Hell right? I mean I want to see Pieces flying and a dang eXplosion! LOL as in CMx1 I would replay those moments....in Awe at the destruction from M4/105's ISU-152, German SiG-33. or other INfantry weapons.

I agree, I actually love taking the time to make a realistic and worthwhile map... even if its just for me. LOL I hope that option never goes away that we cannot make our own maps, etc.

I think the Germans realized this and changed their training to actualy manuevering the tank toward where they wanted to fire in emergency, this could be done rapidly by the driver upon the commanders request... but yes...on advantage to US tanks.

Possibly, if the Axis forces can visualy identify where the infantry are, they can stand at a distance and provide DIRECT Fire on those positions.... which would suck for the infantry, even hiding in buldings, 75mm HE ammo could devestate buildings and light cover, not to mention the Ausf H had a bow mounted MG and another on its coupula = x2 7.9mm MG's min. plus 75mm. Hell in CMx1 whenever infantry took refuge in a wooden home etc.. I would save my infantry and lite them up with Direct Tank Fire, and the rapid 7.9mm would keep them supressed... mostly. One good advantage the Shermans had was that they carried a large ammount of HE shells, which was good in the Bocage or light cover.. however I do not know what the AP to HE ratio was for them.

Ahh yes.. I stand corrected.. I always get those two confused as they looked a little similar. I have to admit I am an Axis guru not really savy on all the Allied material.

Hello Bill, and the Capt...could you tell us a little bit more about the overall map, were there any hills or defilades etc. It is sort of difficult to see if there are any from the map especially if your in overwatch.. or another advantageous position. I think I can make out a couple of ridge lines but not sure. Thanks so much, love the details in your report, cant wait for more. Oh yeah.. one more Question: The Range or measure of the battlefield. The range of the 90mm gun on the US TD's would definetly be a plus here, as well as any 76mm Sherman, however the German 75mm of the PzIVH was a way better gun then the 75mm of the Sherman. Just also want to gauge how far from opposing treelines, ridgelines etc. the engagements would be fought at. Is there Zero advantage for the German 75mm here due to short range.... basically is this a gunfight at the OK Corral (400-600m), or is this a Ranged engagment of at least 700-900m or more... because lets face it.. the only advantage the PzIVH had was probably Crew Training, Morale, optics and a very lethal High Velocity 75mm gun. The Armor was ok from the front... but the 90mm would surly open up a can of whoop ass. Thanks.

Thanks MarkEzra. I know it will never compare to Player vs Player, but good to know that there will be more flexibility etc with the AI. Thanks.

Thats good to hear Sequoia. If anyone is looking for some good reads, I highly recommend the British Author Michael Frank Reynolds "Men Of Steel"(Ardennes offensive) Steel Inferno ISS PzKorps, and Sons of the Reich IISS PzKorps.. Awesome Objective opinion and lots of Facts backed up... Not like the bloody info you see on the Military channel or History Channel. The Devils Adjuant is another good read on Jochan Peiper if interested. I have probably read about 50+books on Normandy and Market Garden era and The two books from Frank Reynolds is rather good, and offers an objective view, which is sometimes hard to get. I have also had the priveledge of talking to a Hungarian who served in a Reserve Garison Unit in Ninjmegen and another Vet from the Waffen SS who served with the 2nd SS... both men let me read their short autobiographies.. it was really something I will never forget.. God bring them Peace to their souls....and to all the many other vets who fought in that Horrific campaign of destruction.

I think you are right.... but that would leave out "What If Scenarios" which would suck. I believe most times the US forces saw Pz IVH's not Tigers. If you look at their silouette profiles they are similar. I dont beleive the US saw their first Tigers until "Market Garden".... But I doubt it. I think they mostly saw those destroyed by the British as they moved through Normandy. However Panzer Lehr Funklenk-Panzerkompanie Kellerman did fight around St. Lo vs the US 83rd Div. However the 101st SSsPzAbt had a compliment of around 49 Tigers I's. And if you have not heard of Villers Bocage... I highly recomend you read about it. 7th UK Armored "Desert Rats" encounter with M. Whittmann and a few Pz IVH's. The 2nd SS, along with the 17th SS GBV when engaged with the US in Normandy only brought a handfull of TD's, Panthers and Pz IVH's All the Tigers from the I and II SS Pz Korps were tied up with the Commonwealth forces. Even in Market Garden there were only maybe a handfull of Tigers as most units were being refitted. I believe that the Battle of the Bulge would have really been the first time that the US was truly engaged by mix Tiger I and II's. At Normandy the sPzABT 503 had 45 Tigger II's with the Porsche Turret, this was the prototype version (early) of the Tigger II's they were positioned around Cagny. They fought well but took a beating from bombardment. Panzer Lehr would have had a mix I believe, as there are pictures of both types of Tiger II's. TO any Allied soldier looking at one of these beasts.. it must have been disconcerning. The Allies can thank alot of Air crews for many Tanks destroyed, and the Navy. @Sequoia... not sure where you got those numbers but I would say some of the numbers would be incorrect. On another Note: If you want to talk rarity, it would be the Heavy Armored Car of Germany. "Puma" as only 200+ were ever produced, but their 50mm High velocity AT gun was formidable even being able to take out Shermans from side and Rear maybe even a lucky front shot... after all it was the taken from the PzIII. and the L/60 was the latest 50mm gun that destroyed alot of Commonwealth tanks etc in North Afrika, the Common wealth called those Tanks 'Mark III Specials".

Hello, I know this reply really is not on the QB maps, but more on the AI, and its ability to manuever. In the CMx1 series and sometimes in BFSF.. I noticed the AI sort of funneling its units right to its directives or Mission Goals. So I guess my question is when the AI places its units and manuevers will they be a little bit more effective.. then coming at you enmass etc.

Nice... good to hear. "I would hate to be on the recieving end of a x4 .50 call Machine gun Halftrack"

Thanks GeorgeMC, that answers my questions entirely. I have drawn out maps already.. in all my excitement I have even researched intensively the battle with Michael Wittman and his Tiger vs the Brits for Villers Bocage, however I feel I may have wasted my time and someone out there has already made a beautiful map.

Question about map creation. Will we be able to get as detailed as far as creating maps in Shock force. For example I saw pictures with farm stuff, bails of hay, etc.. buckets wells.. Them Maps or Pictures I have seen so far for CM Normady have been great. The pictures themselves are very immersive, I just wanted to know if we are able to get really detailed in the creation of our own maps.. or QB maps. Second question is, is the editor as easy as in Combat Mission Shock Force, or easier... or more difficult. Thanks,

I remember BoB... the sheer size of the game was massive, just to see the sky filled with so many planes was nuts... but Iam not sure why I lost interest. I have played IL-2 for some time, even going as far as IL-2 1946... which is very fun. I think my favorite Sim was Falcon 3.0 Where the missions you completed or not completed had small impacts in the Campaign. It kept track of all your Pilots, reserve pilots and planes, and as Wing Commander you got to pick your Pilots for specific missions. That was a blast. (Yikes sort of off Topic)

Awesome, that seems pretty easy. Cheers!

I tried to do a search but could not find my question. As with the first Battlefront series, will there be rank insignia on the uniforms. Pretty much a no brainer... I know but Im just checking... that its checked. Thanks.

Ah right, I have been away for awhile. Once installed its just clicking on the right executable right? From the sounds of it there will be 3. Normandy, Bulge and East Front, god Who knows maybe Meditereanean... but I wont hold my breath, although simulating fighting in Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy and North Africa could be cool, once everyone is bored with the lush greeness of Europe... LOL Well maybe alot of Africa was dusty and brown, but Italy and other parts are very nice. Anyways good to know, thanks Gryphonne.

Ok well thats cool... LOL I guess there will be alot of Disc swapping later on with all the add on Moduals etc. It will be awesome regardless. Well I know it did rain at times during the first couple Months.. I mean hell the invasion was postponed due to weather. Thanks for your insight.

Hello again, with more questions: I know with Shock Force the terrain was pretty much... well dry and dusty, day or night. My question is, when designing or creating your own scenarios, we will not be able to edit ground conditions? Winter, vs Fall etc like in the older BF games. Sunrise, Midday, sunset and Night? Again I could be hyperventelating and being over anxious.. and want to know as much as possible with things I dont know or cant find explained. Anyways Thanks for everyones assistance and replies.... everyone has been most helpful. James